First, to clarify: Physician-assisted suicide is not legal in Montana. A bill that would have accomplished that goal was defeated in our last legislative session. During hearings on that bill, the sponsor, Senator Anders Blewett, a lawyer, conceded that assisted suicide is not legal in Montana. His quotes include: “[U]nder the current law, a – there’s nothing to protect the doctor from prosecution.” Dr. Stephen Speckart, mentioned in Ms. Kimball’s letter, made a similar concession. He stated: “[M]ost physicians feel significant dis-ease with the limited safeguards and possible risk of prosecution after the Baxter decision.”

To view a transcript of these quotes, go here. http://montanansagainstassistedsuicide.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/MT_blewett_transcript167_001.pdf

Second, in Oregon, where assisted-suicide is legal, legalization has allowed the Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) to steer patients to suicide. The most well-known cases involve Barbara Wagner and Randy Stroup. Each wanted treatment. The Plan offered them assisted suicide instead; Wagner and Stroup were steered to suicide. Moreover, it was the Oregon Health Plan, a government entity, doing the steering. State-sanctioned suicide empowers the government, not the individual.

I just read NBC bleeped out the words UNDER GOD on TV. I just can’t believe that a large station as that is SO SMALL!
FYI This is a Christian Nation founded on Godly principals, look up the real history of our Country. Did you know in the 1600’s you could not be part of a town if you didn’t profess Jesus Christ as your savior? Old New England towns were founded on Biblical faith. There are a myriad of faiths in our country but that doesn’t change facts our nation was founded on Biblical values.
I don’t believe if a minority of people don’t believe in God that those of us who do should buckle under and not mention God. Why is this a one sided affair? Those who don’t believe in God need to be tolerant of those who do. I’ve gone to many churches that are not of my faith and don’t agree with everything professed, but wouldn’t think of telling them to stop because I don’t agree with them. It is the right of each person to believe as they wish, and others to be respectful of their belief. That doesn’t mean anyone has to change.
If you don’t believe in God start being respectful of those who do. I will pray in public, say Under God and talk in public with friends about God. I won’t be quiet just because you don’t like the Christian Faith. If you are so hot on political correctness then start by respecting my right to believe as I wish just as you want me to respect how you believe.
Also I don’t believe in Political correctness what is it anyway? We use Mexican American, African American, American Indian and everyone else is white. I’m not just white, I’m Polish American, my grandparents came from Poland. I’m more Polish American then most African Americans, why don’t we use everyones origin of birth then. It is just plain getting ridiculous, if we are born here or legally adopted this country then we should be called AMERICANS.Dee GibneyHamilton

It’s the economy

Dear Editor,

Re: the Federal Deficit. The Democrats have caved into the Republicans on spending cuts to the tune of trillions of dollars. Now it is time for the Republicans to give a little on tax hikes for their millionaire and billionaire buddies, but they wont budge. We cannot have a one sided solution. The Middle Class cannot continue to bail out the billionaires. The Middle Class barely exists anymore. For forty years the wealthiest 10% have accumulated all of the increased productivity of the American worker. The workers have gotten nothing – their average income has stayed static all that time, while the wealthiest have quadrupled their income. They are now sitting on about 2 Trillion Dollars of idle capital that they could invest in America, but they sit on it, while the workers are sitting on Trillions in debt.
Note to Democrats: the majority of voters are in favor of taxing the wealthy. The rest of us are out of money.Mike ThomasHelena

Lawsuit over SB423 an insult

Dear Editor,

The lawsuit against SB423 is an insult to the intelligence of thousands of Montanans! This lawsuit goes against the separation of powers as stated in the Montana Constitution, our Montana Legislators, the Supreme Court, the FDA, the Federal Law and the US Congress.

A supermajority of the Legislators voted for SB423. In 2001, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled against the legality of medical marijuana. Federal law prohibits the possession, manufacture, and distribution of marijuana. The FDA hasn’t approved smoked marijuana for any condition or disease. On June 15, the Chairmen of two Congressional committees sent a letter to US Attorney General, Eric Holder, stating that Congress placed marijuana in Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substance Act and, as such, growing, distributing, and possessing marijuana in any capacity, other than as part of a federally authorized research program, is a violation of federal law regardless of state laws permitting such activities.

After considering the above, the possession, manufacturing and distribution of marijuana is illegal.

We ask the Judge, in trying to uphold the constitution, to consider the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution which states: “the Constitution and the laws of the United States…shall be the supreme law of the land…anything in the constitutions or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.” The Controlled Substances Act trumps any conflicting state law. If the concern really is the constitutionality of SB 423, then every section of SB 423 should be stricken, except for the provision completely repealing the “medical” marijuana law.